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MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Sara Duterte and her lawyers will not attend the hearing today on her impeachment case by the committee on justice of the House of Representatives.
Committee chairperson Batangas Rep. Gerville Luistro was reported to have received information on Duterte’s no-show at the hearing set at 10 a.m. at the People’s Center of the House.
The panel will proceed to the initial hearing on the two remaining complaints – one filed by Fr. Joel Saballa and endorsed by ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima and the other by lawyer Nathaniel Cabrera and endorsed by Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. and Deputy Speaker Francisco Paolo Ortega V.
The committee will also act on pending motions, including requests for the issuance of subpoenas for documents. Also up for resolution is the petition to place under the panel’s custody a key witness, Ramil Madriaga, who claims to be a former “bagman” of the Vice President.
The committee will also tackle the issue of conflict of interest involving two members of Duterte’s legal team.
“If the complainants are ready, we can actually proceed to presentation of evidence and witnesses,” Luistro said in a joint statement with Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Terry Ridon.
“We are prosecutors. So, the justice members will study all the pieces of evidence that the complainant and the respondent will lay down,” she added.
Luistro emphasized that the proceedings will remain strictly rules-based, with only committee members allowed to conduct cross-examination of witnesses.
In an interview with dwIZ, Luistro said her committee will apply the same standards used in the impeachment case against Marcos in its handling of the complaints against the Vice President.
“Of course, there is a very big disparity between the impeachment against the President and the Vice President. In the case of the President, you cannot see the personal participation. As a matter of fact, no evidence that will establish the alleged participation of the President in the corruption,” Luistro said.
The complaints against Duterte include allegations of misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unexplained wealth, violations of Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth requirements, bribery and an alleged death threat on President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and former speaker Martin Romualdez.
The justice panel has been authorized by the House plenary to continue its proceedings even during the congressional recess, ensuring uninterrupted conduct of the impeachment process. Subsequent hearings are set for April 14, 22 and 29.
Ridon, chairman of the House committee on public accounts and a member of the justice panel, underscored that the proceedings are anchored on evidence and official findings, rejecting claims that the complaints are speculative.
“We have to be very clear – everything that has been discussed previously is not based on speculation, these are based on evidence. It is not true that all of these are based on conjecture,” Ridon said. “These are not speculation. These are official audit findings.”
It’s unclear if the Vice President has accepted the committee’s invitation to attend today’s hearing or any of the other scheduled hearings.
Her defense team earlier said she is not required to attend the hearing under existing rules, but stressed it’s all up to her to decide.
“The process is there to ensure that all sides are heard. It is an opportunity for the respondent to answer the allegations and clarify matters before the committee,” Ridon said.
Ortega said Duterte should grab the opportunity to personally address the allegations against her.
“This is not just about politics – this is about accountability under the Constitution. The Vice President is duty-bound to respond to the impeachment complaints. Public office is a public trust – the people deserve answers,” Ortega said.
“The process is designed to be fair – both sides are given the chance to be heard. The committee is not prejudging. Participation strengthens – not weakens – her position,” Ortega said.
Dino de Leon, a counsel for the complainants, said Duterte is “duty-bound” to face the proceedings.
“This is a constitutional process … it is accountability, she has to explain,” he said.
